Last evening listening to the radio they were discussing Plato's Republic, and several times, mentioned it as one of the most influential books of all time. It got me to thinking what other books ought to be included on that list.

Just one caveat I think everyone would agree the Talmud, the Bible, and the Koran would be on the list so let's just skip those.
In addition try not to put in scientific papers like Einstein and Newton or essays. Not because they aren't important but because they aren't books. So they shouldn't count.

Here is my list, in no particular order:

1) The Gutenberg Bible. I know that I just broke my own rule however, unlike every other book on this list this one is here not for what it says inside, but because of its production. So it is different.

it's the "Iliad" and "Odyssey"... and while the latter is a continuation of the same story, it's a different book-- thus rendering a tie for #6, and jumping to #8 (meaning the last book on our list should be knocked off if you wanna keep it to 10)

Quoting Waterpolodan (Reply 6):This would certainly be on my list. Directly influenced much of 20th century politics and conflict.

That's why it's there. Not everything that influential is positive. Sometimes it's negative which is why Mien Kampf made the list.

Quoting ConcordeBoy (Reply 4):it's the "Iliad" and "Odyssey"... and while the latter is a continuation of the same story, it's a different book-- thus rendering a tie for #6, and jumping to #8 (meaning the last book on our list should be knocked off if you wanna keep it to 10)

Point taken. And if I could go back and correct my stupid misspelling I would do that too. On the other hand there is no reason why there can't be 11 or 12 or what ever. Secondly, I agree technically they are two books but also technically they were not written down in the first place so who's to say they weren't one story halved for convenience sake?

You can live without Homer and Hitler and Machiavelli and Marx, but you cannot live without without Taro Gomi:

"You're a Naughty Child and That's Concentrated Evil Coming Out the Back of You"

Ok, in all reality, I don't know what the most influential books of all time are. Influential in what way? One country or civilizations most influential is anothers most hated. One persons most influential is another persons waste of paper.

Even an atheist/agnostic such as myself who is distrustful of organized religion and has a real hard time swallowing the concept of deism must admit that the Bible, for better or for worse, has probably been close to the most influential book in at least the last 2000 years...